Socializing: English Vocabulary List

to slap one's palm against the palm of another person as a way of greeting or congratulating them

"Give me some skin, brother."

"After winning the game the players high fived each other to give some skin and celebrate."

to have the opportunity to spend time with a famous person, whether professionally or socially

"At the gala, I rubbed shoulders with famous actors."

"At the film festival she got to rub shoulders with some of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood."

to enjoy a friendly talk with a person for a long period of time

"We sat around chewing the fat for hours."

"My grandfather and his best friend like to sit on the porch and chew the fat for hours."

to keep talking with a person about no particular subject

"We shot the breeze all day."

"My grandfather and his friend like to sit on the porch and shoot the breeze for hours."

to make two or more strangers get comfortable with each other and engage in a conversation

"He told a joke to break the ice."

"He told a funny joke to break the ice at the beginning of the awkward business meeting."

used for greeting a person whom one has not seen for a significant period of time

"Hello stranger! You're back!"

"Seeing my old college roommate after ten years, I exclaimed, "Hello stranger! It's wonderful to see you again!""

brief and polite conversation about random subjects, often in a social setting

"They made small talk."

"During the awkward silence at the party, he initiated some light small talk about the weather."

used as a question when one wants to know what another person has in mind at the moment

"A penny for your thoughts, you look serious."

"You look very deep in thought so a penny for your thoughts what is going on in your mind right now."

said when one is in the middle of a conversation about a particular person and that person suddenly shows up

"Talk of the devil, here she comes!"

"We were just talking about you, and you walked in — speak of the devil, we need your help right now!"

used to ask a departing person to keep visiting or communicating with one

"Don't be a stranger."

"As they said goodbye at the airport, she told him, "Please don't be a stranger; call me anytime.""

(particularly of a guest) to stay in someone's house longer than is considered appropriate, often to the point where one is not welcomed anymore

"Don't outstay your welcome."

"He realized he had been talking for too long and decided to leave before he started to outstay his welcome."

to compeletly end one's relationship with someone

"Wash hands of him."

"After countless attempts to help him, she finally decided to wash her hands of his destructive behavior."

to choose not to communicate or interact with other people

"He is shy and keeps to himself."

"My elderly neighbour is very shy and prefers to keep to herself most days."

someone or something that when seen makes one very pleased

"The pizza was great."

"After a grueling hike in the desert, the cool, clear water of the oasis was a sight for sore eyes."